Bearing



Feb. 17, 1931. G. N. VANDERHOEF BEARING Filed May 25, 1927 Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGIE N. DEROE, OF 'MISHAWAKA, INDIANA,ASSIGNOR TO DODGE MANU- Y FAGTTII'*IRINGr` CORPORATION, OF MISHAWAKA., INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF DELL# WARE Application led Hay 28,

This invention relates to improvements in bearings, and vhas among its 'objects to provide a bearing construction which may be assembled at the factory or place yof manufacture, charged with lubricant, and shipped as a unit to the customer, Who needs only mount the vsame with respect to the shaft or otherelement which it is to journal, after which it is only necessary to clamp the shaftengaging elements to the shaft, a simple operation whichis performed without disturbance of thebearing elements. Another l object is to provide-a bearing structure which. may be assembled at the factory, charged with lubricant and shipped -without' danger of access of dirt, dust, or other detrimental substances to the interior of the bearing housing. Another object lis to -provide a earing in which the bearin elements may be adl 9 justed from the exterior thereof, as necessary,

to provide'or take u clearance without disassembly or remova .'of'the bearing or-portions thereof from the shaft.A Another object-is .to rovide a structure wherein the grease sealing membenwill be maintained in 1- constant concentrici with respect to the rotating elements of t e bearing despite disali f entor rocking of the shaft.

tllilr objects'reside in theA details and arrangement of the parts as will be lmore fully set forth .and described in the" following specificationv and shown in the accompanying drawing in whichg f ,A

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section invention, a

u throul an embodiment of my shaft ing illustrated in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical transverse section ofthe same.

'Fig 3 is a section along the line `3-'3 of u 2. Y

the drawings I have shown my invention as applied to a bearing capable of accommodatin both the expansion or contraction of the s aft and a tilting or rocking movea ment, but it should be clearly understood that my invention is likewise applicable tootherl types of bearing.

In the drawingsl indicates a basehavin the cap 11 formed separately therefrom an secured in assembled relation by means of the z scribed hereinafter.

therebe Mounted upon the sleeve 16 inv close fricge Y .BEARING 1927. serial No. 193,415.

bolts 11 and nuts 11b, as illustrated .in Fig. 2. The base and cap 11 are concaved in the form illustrated as indicated by numerals 10* and 11 to accommodate the outer housin 12, as term it, which is convexly forme for a rocking adjustment or alignment of the surfaceslOa and 11. Located within the outer housing 12 in an inner housing 13, slidable with respect thereto to accommodate longitudinal movement of the shaft 14 under 60 changing temperature conditions or the like.'V rThe inner housing, 13 is provided with the inwardfy projecting shoulder or rib 13 through which extends a lubricant charging aperture 13b (see Figs. 1 and 2) in alignment with a similar aperture 128L in the outer housing. The cap, 11 is rovided with a hole or opening 11d throug Vwhich extends a lug 12d formed on the inner housing 12, the same being provided with the threaded closure yplug 12, removable to permit charging of grease or otherlubricantinto the interior Y' of housing 13. Concentric with and spaced from the inner housing 13 is the sleeve 16 havi a peripheral outwardly projecting shoul er 16* at one end and a detachable shoulder portion 16" at the other end. This detachable shoulder 161 is removably secured to the sleeve 16 by means of the threaded cap screws 17. I have illustrated shims 18 interposed" betweenthis removable shoulder portion 16" and the body of the sleeve 16to rmit variations inthe spacingl between t ese elements for adjustment purposes, as will be deo prevent" relative rotative movement between the inner housing and the outerhousing 12,'I provide a cap screw 15 carried by the outer housing 12 provided with a. smooth projecting Ati 15 99' mounted inloii 'tudinal slot 13x on t e invner .housing 13 see Figs. 2 and 3?. This slot 13x will permit relative axial or movement of theinner and outer ousings, butwill prevent relative rotative movement tween.

tional. contact therewith are the bearing cones 19 andthereabove frictionally engage.

ing .the inner of the housing 18 are 1 on tudinal the coacting bearing cups 20, roller or other bearings 21 being interposed between cones and cups in well known manner. The shoulder or rib 13 acts as a stop and positioning member for the cups 20 which are thus maintained in proper spaced relation as to each other, and are properly positioned with re-V Y spect to the cones 19. One cone 19 .is positioned by the shoulder 16a of the sleeve 16, and the other cone 19 is positioned by the removable shoulder portion 16", as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In making adjustment of the bearing unit, comprising elements 19, 20 and 21, the shoulder portion 16b may be adjusted by removal or addition of shims 18 as will be readily understood, and having properly adjusted the bearing elements, the adjustment will remain undisturbed during mounting or removal of the entire structure.

Coneentric with and located inside the sleeve 16 is a coacting tube 25, preferably split, and of such size as to be slidable .upon shaft14. The outer surface of the tube 25 is tapered or inclined, as is the eoacting inner surface of the sleeve 16. This provides a wedging action between the tube and sleeve when relative movement is had. To obtain such movement a collar 26 is provided, slidable over the shaft 14 into contactI with the projecting end of the tube 25, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Threaded bolts or cap screws 27 extend through the collar 26 into threaded engagement with the shoulder v16a of the sleeve 16. By this means the sleeve and tube may be relatively displaced or moved longitudinally of the shaft 14 to increase the wedging action exerted upon the split tube 25 and thereby increase its grip or frictional engagement of the shaft 14. This permits the combination of the bearing struc ture with shafts which may be somewhat over or under-sized, a decided advantage, as

will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

Secured to each side of the inner housing 13 is a ring 30, secured by cap screws or bolts 31. This ring 3() is notched or recessed at its inner edge as indicated by numeral 30, and a second coacting ring 32 is secured by bolts 33 or the like thereto with an inwardly projecting rib or ange 32, between which and the ring 30 is clamped a grease ring 35 of felt or the like. The inner peripheries of the rings 30, 32, are constructed to lie adjacent' and slightly spaced from the shouldersv 16a and 16", the felt or other ring 35 being compressed by the rings to bear against the outer periphery of the shoulders, thus sealing the interior of housing 13 to prevent exudation or leakage of the grease or other lubricant, as well as to prevent entry of dust, dirt, water or the like. One decided advantage of my construction is vthat even though the shaft 14 be tilted or rocked slightly out of its proper alignment, the spacing between the rings 30, 32, and the rotating shoulders 16a and 16b will be maintained constant, and consequently there willbe no distortion or eccentricity imparted to the sealing ring 35, since housings 12 and 13 and rings 30 and 32 must rock with the sleeve 16, due to the construction shown and described.

The bearing structure described above, as stated, permits longitudinal as well as rocking adjustment, but it will be obvious that in a` socket or spherical construction which permits rocking alignment only, the inner and outer housings 13 and 12 might be merged as one element, and my invention is applicable to either construction, as well as to other variations or modifications.

It will be understood from the above construction that the bearing-structure may be completely assembled, adjusted and charged with lubricant at the factory and shipped to the user. The interior of the'housings during shipment is protected even with the use of the split tube 25 by virtue of the presence of the sleeve 16, and it is only necessary for the user to displace tube 25 sufficiently relative'to the sleeve 16 to permit sliding of the bearing over the shaft 14 to the desired location, after which the ring 26 may be moved without disturbance of the bearing assembly to exert proper clamping or grip of the tube 25 upon the sleeve 16'to ensure rotation of the sleeve with the shaft 14. lThe elements of the bearings proper are adjusted at the factory, and such adjustment remains undisturbed during the assembly of the bearing to the shaft.

Should it be desired to take up play in the bearings themselves, this may be done at the installation without disassembly of the bearing structure or components, except possibly `to remove the shoulder portion 16b and reof the shaft 14, which ensures proper maintenance of lubrication and prevention of leakage.

It will be obvious that my invention is susceptible of modification and variation from the form illustrated and described, and I do not wish to be restricted to such form, except as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, an outer housing, an inner housing means slidable axially with respect thereto and including a sleeve, bearing units mounted on said sleeve and encased in said housing means, a tube located within said sleeve, said tube and sleeve being provided with contacting wedging surfaces, said sleeve having a plain cylindrical exterior surface on which the inner race rings of said bearing units are fitted, means coactingbetween'said sleeve and tube to relatively displace the one with re ect to the other, and means .associated w1th said sleeve to adjust said bearing units in said housing means. l

- 2. In combination, -housing means including a sleeve, bearing units encased in said housing means, said bearing units comprising spaced cups and cones with tapered rollers interpofed therebetween, a tube located within said sleeve, said tube and sleeve being provided with coactin wedging surfaces, and means coact' with said tube and sleeve to relatively disp ace the one with respect to the other, said sleeve having a plain cylindrical exterior surface on which said cones are 'fitted and being provided with an adjustable shoul-y Vthe play oi said bearing elements.

It. ln combination, a housing member having a central internal rib, bearing cups xed in said housing on opposite sides of and abutting against said rib, a sleeve in said housing member and' concentric therewith, bearing cones slidably mounted on said sleeve in spaced relation, tapered roller bearing elements interposed between said cu s vand cones, and means associated Ywith sai sleeve to eect adjustment of the relative positioning of said cones and thereby to 'adjust or eliminate the play of said bearing elements,

'said last named means including a shoulder formed integrally on said sleeve and an adjustable shoulder also on said sleeve, said shoulders maintaining said cones against outward movement.

5. In combination, a housing member having spacing means intermediate its ends, bearing cups xed in said housing and spaced by said means, a sleeve in said housing member and concentric therewith, bearing cones slidably mounted on said sleeve in spaced relation, tapered roller .bearing elements interposed between said cups and cones, means associated with said sleeve to effect adjustment of the relative positioning of said cones and therebyto adjust or eliminate the play of said bearing elements, a contractile tube extending through said sleeve, said tube and sleeve being provided with complementary tapered contacting surfaces, and means co-acting with said tube and sleeve to relatively disother end.

place the same to contract said tube or permit expansion thereof.

' 6. A shaft bearing comprising, in combination, a sleeve lhaving a tapered bore and vexteriorly enlarged at the end at .which the bore isof greatest diameter, an exteriorly j tapered contractile' tube extendingthrough and itted inthe sleeve, a pair of symmetrically arranged bearing units mounted on said sleeve, each comprising cup and cone bearing rings and interposed bearing rollers, a housing embodying a member in which the outer bearing rings are fitted, said member having means arranged between and cooperating with the outer bearing rings for positioning them, the enlarged end of saidsleeve providing an'abutment shoulder forone of the inner bearing rings, means co-acting with said enlarged end ofthe sleeve and with said tube to force the tube into thel sleeve, and means' adjustably secured to the opposite end of said sleeve providing 4an adjustable abutment for `the adjacent inner bearing ring, said ,inner bearing rings being positioned between said adjustable abutment and the shoulder on the enlarged end' of the sleeve..

, 7;V A shaft bearing comprising, in combination, a sleeve having a tapered bore and-exteriorly enlarged at the end at which the bore Y is of greatest diameter, an exteriorly tapered contractile tube extending' through and fitted in the sleeve, a pair of symmetrically arranged bearing units mounted on said sleeve, cach comprising cup and cone bearing rings and interposed bearing rollers, a housing embodying a member in which the outer bearing rings are. tted, said member having means .arranged between and cooperating with the outer bearing rings for positioning them, 'the enlarged end of said sleeve'providing an abutment shoulder for one of the inner bearing rings, means co-actingx-with said enlarged end of the sleeve and wit said tube to force the tube into the sleeve, means adjustably secured to the opposite end of said sleeve providing an adjustable abutment for the adjacent inner bearing ring, said inner bearing' rings being positioned between said adjustable abutment and the shoulder on the enlarged end of the sleeve, removable end plates carried by the said housing member, and seals betweenl said end plates and the enlarged end of said sleeve and adjustable abutment at its 8. A'shaft, bearing comprising, inv combination, a sleeve havinga ta ered bore and eX- teriorly enlarged at the en at which the bore is of greatest diameter, an exteriorly tapered contractile tubeextendin through and fitted in the sleeve, a pair o symmetrically arranged bearing units mounted on said sleeve, eachv comprisin cup and cone bearing rings and interposed caring rollers, an inner housing member in which the outer bearing rings are `itted, a concentric outer housing member, a third supporting member, saidv three members movablT interitted in one another, Y

two'of them having .spherical contact surfaces to permit relative angular play about the Center of the bearing, and two of them slidably tted to permit relative axial play, said inner housing members having means arrangedbetween' and cooperating with the outer bearing rings for posltioning them, the enlarged end of said' sleeve providing an.

abutment shoulder for oneof the inner bear- I ing rings; means (1o-acting with said enlarged f end of the sleeve and withsaid tube to force. v

the tube into the sleeve, and means adjust-` ably secured to the opposite end of said sleeve providing an adjustable abutment for the adj aeent inner bearing ring, saidinner bearing rings being positioned between said adjustable abutment and the shoulder on the enlarged end ofthe sleeve.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication.

GEORGE N. VAN DERHOEF. 

